Warsaw’s Andrew Gauger follows through after a return Tuesday night.

CULVER – Beating a good team once in a season is difficult to do.

Trying to repeat the result in the postseason can really be a challenge.

The Warsaw boys tennis team found out just how tough a task it is Tuesday night.

The Tigers saw their season end with a 5-0 loss to host Culver Academies in a regional semifinal.

The Eagles, who lost a 4-1 decision at home to Warsaw back on August 31, won a trio of three-set matches to earn the victory in the rematch.

Culver Academies, the defending regional champion, advances to play Plymouth Wednesday night at 5 p.m. for the regional championship. The winner returns to Culver Academies on Saturday to play the Portage Regional winner at noon in the semistate. Plymouth, which lost 4-1 to the Academies during the regular season, beat Wabash 5-0 Tuesday night in the other semifinal.

Warsaw coach Rick Orban, whose team won a pair of three-set matches in the earlier win over Culver Academies, knew that it would take focus and confidence to top the Eagles for a second time Tuesday night.

His veteran team, despite some brilliant play at times, did not have enough of either on a gorgeous night at the outstanding Gable Tennis Complex.

“This was kind of the way we played all year,” said Orban. “We played incredible when we played the way we can. And then we lost big points and we lost focus tonight.

“It comes down to losing focus. Culver is a good team and you can’t give a good team the thought that they can win. Once Culver got on a roll tonight we could not turn it around.

“Confidence is a huge part of it and I was concerned about our mental state coming into this match. We told our guys Monday night that Culver was not coming into this expecting to lost to us again 4-1. I knew that we would have to play strong from the start and play our A game and we just did not do that tonight.”

David Homme watches his return at No. 3 singles play.

The Eagles, who had an all-senior lineup a year ago when they advanced to the quarterfinal round of the State Finals, did have a couple of changes Tuesday night from the lineup that faced Warsaw back on August 31.

That being said, coach Alan Loehr’s young team with just one senior took it to a Warsaw lineup boasting five seniors among its seven players.

The Eagles started strong and won big points on all five courts to earn the victory.

Culver took a 1-0 lead in the match as sophomore Zhang Huang topped senior Andrew Gauger 6-1, 6-4 at No. 2 singles. The Eagles made it 2-0 just a couple of minutes later as junior Ian Smith topped junior Colton Lind 6-4, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. Smith was the lone player returning for the Eagles this season who had any varsity experience last year.

The Academies claimed the team win in right at two hours as its No. 2 doubles team of junior George DeVries and sophomore Henry Bilicic defeated senior Hayden Steger and sophomore Spencer Britton 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

The Eagles made it 4-0 as senior Andrew Dorrell and junior Jose Santiago-Peraza outlasted seniors Ryan Wettschurack and Justin Stout 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 doubles. Freshman Nikolas Warnholtz claimed the final point in beating senior David Homme 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-2 in a match lasting 2:20 at No. 3 singles.

Culver Academies, playing in the regional for the 13th straight year, improves to 13-5. Warsaw, in the regional for the fifth straight season, finishes at 9-7.

Plymouth rolled over Wabash in straight sets on all five courts. Senior John Gerard won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles to pace the Pilgrims. Sophomore Mitch Rose won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 and senior Zach Moser prevailed 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3 to complete the singles sweep. The duo of seniors Nick Felke and Grant Clady won 6-4, 6-3 at No. 1 doubles for Plymouth and the pair of junior Tommy Holloway and senior Hudson Yoder won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2 doubles.

“Our five seniors had a great year and won some big matches,” concluded Orban.

Colton Lind prepares to serve at No. 1 singles.

Spencer Britton is ready at the net in doubles action.